Friday, 30 October 2015

I
must admit, I have had this book in the review pile for a while (and the pile
has been high of late) but I couldn’t forget about it as I knew I would love
it.

Belinda
Murrell has created such a loving, whimsical character in Lulu Bell that I wish
I knew her as a 10 year old. She and I would have been kindred spirits in our
search of little adventures and love of animals. This sweet chapter book for
younger readers aged 7-10 years truly embraces all that being a kid should be
about -- friendship, animals, family, community and creativity.

This
was the first of the Lulu Bell books that I had read, however I was not
restricted in getting to know the characters. Younger readers will enjoy
collecting the book series and identifying with many of the adventures that
Lulu Bell has. As a mum of a 10 year old girl I’ve observed that the voice is
very strong and could quite easily be one of my daughter’s friends.

In
this story Lulu Bell and her school chums charge themselves with repairing the
school vegetable garden after a wild, destructive storm. The school cannot
afford to fix it immediately, so instead Lulu and her cart-wheeling cohort
decipher a plan to fund and repair the garden with the help of their families
and local community. It conveys in the idea that making a difference, teamwork
and selflessness can actually be fun as well as rewarding.

The
setting is very Australian and the mood is bright, cheerful, sunny, loving and
nurturing. It wouldn’t surprise me if this story prompted its young readers to
take on similar activities. The strong but simple sentences with these familiar
settings and characters would also appeal to reluctant readers, particularly
those who love animals and nature.

As
a parent, I love that there is a lack of modern technology and materialism
referenced in the book, and the soft illustrations from Serena Geddes enhance
the story to give the full sense of Lulu Bell’s jolly world. It is luminous
without being too sugary.

Belinda
Murrell is also the author of the Sun Sword trilogy, The
Ruby Talisman, The Locket of Dreams, The Ivory Rose and The
Sequin Star. Serena Geddes had previously worked in Disney animation and
now illustrates the Lulu Bell series, the Totally
Twins series and Why I Love series among many other
titles.

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Originally published in
French, this simply told picture book is written and illustrated by an
internationally award-winning Canadian illustrator and author of children’s
books. It is a tale of the relationship between a lion wearing dungarees and a
lost bird. In the first wordless double page the reader sees Lion on an autumn
day working in his sparse garden. Above is a flock of birds but one of them
unfortunately falls: it is found by Lion still alive but injured. Lion tends to
the bird while the flock disappears.

In very few words, and
often in wordless pages, one ‘reads’ the story of how the unlikely pairing of
the two main animals becomes a close relationship. There are even blank pages
to indicate the long passing of (a snowy) winter, and of of time. Finally, a
flower appears on the snow and as does the flock of birds in the sky. The now
healed bird returns to his flock and the Lion continues a solitary life – until
autumn returns.

This cyclic tale is very
gently told in minimalist text and illustrations which are stark and almost
naïve-like. The story doesn’t leap out of the pages but instead has a feeling
of seeping into the reader’s pores to become embedded there long after the
final page is closed. The themes of friendship, patience, loneliness and change
are the hallmarks of this poignant and uplifting story.

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Everybody wishes they could fly. In this children’s
picture book, the boy in the story makes wishes and then imagines them coming true.
He wishes for flavoured rain, musical steps, a bushy tail, even fangs. But
these wishes can’t come true. But what if you wished for something real and you
got it?

This is Ben Clanton’s fifth picture book. It’s about
the magic of wishes, the hope that comes with wishing, and imagining the wish
coming true. Inspired by the author/illustrator’s own imaginative thoughts,
they became real wishes when he turned them into this book.

The text is not the driving force here. It’s the
story the illustrations portray that is the most fascinating. Rendered in
watercolour and pencil, I loved the boy’s face the best, so expectant and
innocent. It looked like someone familiar, but not. The consistent use of
earthy browns and soft green for the first part of the book with the wishes is
magnetic. Then, when the real wish is made, colour creeps gradually onto the
page.

It first appears in the trees in varying shades of
green. It’s followed by brown musical notes that come from the birds behind the
trees. These begin to fill the page. Then more colour is added with the
appearance of flowers beneath the trees. Then the wish becomes something
extraordinary with the nest of baby birds, more coloured musical notes, and
lots of floral coloured bushes surrounding the tree.

Who needs words? These last wordless images left me speechless. This
delightful book ideal for the 3+ years age group, comes with a stunning
jacket depicting a large image of the boy, with a small image of the bird
behind him.

Monday, 26 October 2015

Blast
off on an exciting adventure with Josh Atkins (aka Jo-Kin) and his trusty
sidekick, nerdy Sam Jones (Sam-Wich).
The adventure begins when the fearless duo win the Super Space Kid contest and
set off on a mission to save the galaxy from a deadly alien called the IT.

The
battle is on when the IT kidnaps Captain Astra and Jo and Sam must find a way
to save the galaxy before it’s too late.
Along the way, they must survive entry challenges, successfully master
high tech gadgets and battle creatures trying to destroy them.

This
excellent book is perfect for middle grade readers aged 7 to 10 years. The
storyline is creative and will hold the read’s attention from the moment they
pick up the book. The characters are well-developed and likeable. Readers will
relate to them and enjoy going on this journey with them.

Jo-Kin Battles the It is the latest
release from award-winning resilience author-teacher Karen Tyrrell. Over the
years Karen has released a number of empowering books dealing with issues that
affect us all.

This book embodies many of the elements required
to produce a great story but it also deals with important topics such as
resilience, team building, bullying, self-esteem and friendship.

The
cover of the book is graphically enticing as it is brightly coloured and
features interesting images that will appeal to young readers. The illustrations inside the book add a nice touch and
break up the text.

This
is a brilliant book and is definitely worth a read. It is action-packed and
humorous, and will leave the reader wanting more.

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Frankie
DuPont and the High Seas Heist by Julie Anne Grasso, illustrated by
Alexander Avellino (Julieannegrassobooks)

PB
RRP $14.95

ISBN
9780994321602

Reviewed
by Ashling Kwok

This
exciting new chapter book is the latest in the Frankie Dupont series. The book
follows the adventures of Frankie as he sets out to solve another crime, even
before it is committed. This time the story takes place on a luxury cruise
liner filled with chocolate sculptures, devious chocolatiers and more twists
and turns than you can imagine.

The
lively adventure sees Frankie and his friends set out to solve a mystery
on board the ship by following a trail of clues and investigating suspects using
DNA tracking machines, famous chocolate recipes and a trusty dogs nose.

Frankie
DuPont and the High Seas Heist is perfect for middle grade readers aged 7-10 or
anyone who enjoys a well-written book filled with fun, laughter and intrigue.
Readers will learn the value of friendship, teamwork and perseverance and how
anything can be achieved if they don’t give up.

Julie’s writing is fast-paced, animated and creative. And
although this is another installment in the Frankie DuPont series, it is an
original and entertaining story that will have readers dying to turn the page.

The
cover of the book is enticing as it is brightly coloured and features cool
images to hook young readers. The text is easy to read and the sentence
structure clear and concise. The illustrations add a nice touch and break up
the text.

Frankie
DuPont and the High Seas Heist is an excellent book that starts strong and
manages to maintain the reader’s interest
throughout. It is a smart, well-written adventure and the perfect book to
encourage kids who don’t love reading to give it a go.

Saturday, 24 October 2015

In time for Halloween comes the story of Brad the
zombiefied bunny in rollicking rhyming verse. It all starts one night when the
boy and his two friends are watching a Zombie movie. Bunny Brad obviously
bored, decides to gnaw through the electrical cord with obvious results.

Naturally the boy is broken-hearted at the loss of
his pet. He’s told by dad about Bunny heaven but needs to see for himself if
bunny’s all right down there in the dirt. So he digs him up with traumatic
results for the family.

This somewhat gruesome tale for the 8+ years age groups
will appeal to boys with a skewered sense of humour or a bent towards zombies
and such. Its clever use of words combined with outstanding digitally created
illustrations that accentuate the text, will have them in stitches. Not your
traditional children’s picture book, but a none-the-less superb production. The
expressions on the character’s faces run in perfect sync to the text. Presented mostly in black and white except
for the scenes with Brad the bunny, it is an entertaining read which I can see
being passed around under desks at school.

Here is the third in the
series set in an Australian wilderness forest that focuses on the adventures of
Daisy, a finger-sized fairy who has recently earned her wings.

In another
gentle and charming story, the reader learns how Daisy helps her musically talented
older sister, Maggie, get ready for a concert. Maggie is to go into a Songbird
Duet with the magpie Melody, so Daisy, trying to surprise her, decides to
embellish a beautiful black dress made by Aunt Acacia with corella feathers.
Unfortunately, this proves to be a disaster – but aunt steps happily steps in
to remedy the problem.

Just before a performance,
Daisy’s friend Pea – a recurring fairy character in the series – introduces her
to musicians including Boronia, Grebe, Lark and Ash who are all to perform as
well. As events progress, Daisy is forced to use her wand to smooth events
which threaten to spoil the rehearsal. Then, when Grevillia -- Boronia’s
overzealous mother -- threatens to sabotage Maggie's duet with Melody the
Magpie, Daisy has the chance to save the day and redeem herself.

Once again, the
Australian bush setting brings a unique aspect to the story and the characters
are real and lovable, and unlike many book series for children – they are
memorable.

For a reader aged 6 to 9 years, especially a girl, this book is a
page-turner with lots of action and adventure. The whimsical ink sketches by
one of Australia’s leading illustrators capture the delightful tone of the
book. Highly recommended.

With a moving Foreword by actress and staunch
wildlife crusader Virginia McKenna, this magnificent counting book goes from
one to ten. The operative word here is numbers, and that word demands attention
be given to the declining numbers of animal species around the world. Whether
it’s for trophy hunting, souvenirs of their animal parts, or their capture for
pet shop trade (and the list goes on), an increasing number of wild animals and
birds are being killed each year for financial gain. Man fails to see their
importance in ‘the creation and protection of the natural world.’

The expression on the lion’s face will cause an
emotional shift in the reader. Mother and child gorillas ‘breathe the same
breath’ and the two now together, will soon become singular entities. The three
giraffes are such peaceful animals. With their head in the clouds they can see
forever as they traverse the grasslands.

Four tigers: a mother and her cubs. She will
sacrifice everything to protect them. But can she protect them from hunters and
poachers? Five elephants wander together on an endless journey towards food and
water. Six Ethiopian wolves stay within
their boundaries, safe but not. Seven penguins make a family of parents and
children in the frozen Antarctic environment. Eight turtles, who know the water
better than anyone, return to the place of their birth to lay their eggs in the
sand.

Nine macaws discuss their day, ready to spread their
wings if necessary. Ten zebras drink at a waterhole. Their eyes and ears ever
alert for the dangers that lurk just beyond their sight and hearing.

The end of the book has miniature pictures of each
animal accompanied by their protection status and approximately ten lines of
information about their family groups, size, and other statistics on them.

These magnificent drawings are not for children
alone to adore. This book is for coffee tables; to generate thought-provoking
discussion about these and other endangered animals, and to bring about changes
in human thought about who and what we really are.

Thursday, 22 October 2015

Towser the
kitten is a gift to Toby, a tow-headed boy who wanted an elephant. When Toby
goes to answer the door, Towser escapes the family room and goes exploring. His
adventures take him from room to room while he reflects on what he’d do if he
really was an elephant. Finally he comes face to face with a kitten which
mimics his every move. Perhaps it’s fortunate he’s not an elephant or there’d
be a lot of broken mirror around!

The easy, fluid
style of the illustrations generally complements the text beautifully. However
one or two have busy, muddy backgrounds that (at least in print) detract from,
rather than enhance, the story.

The story is based on a real-life experience when the author’s kitten
was spooked by his own reflection. The fun, imaginative elements are based on
her father’s interpretation of the kitten’s elephant-like heart and soul.

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

If you are a fan of WeirDo, Wimpy Kid,
Big Nate or even Captain Underpants, you will enjoy Jen Storer’s latest series
featuring nine year old Danny Best.

Brilliantly illustrated by Mitch Vane,
this compilation of five stories is packed with appeal to young boys. Danny and
his pals Fab (Fabrizio), Sticks, Clancy, Mae, Dylan and Pugsley the dog don’t
solve mysteries or rescue small children. Storer’s characters play games of
cops and robbers, and make obstacles courses and racetracks for bike riding.
These stories delight in the daily play and activities of kids – or perhaps the
play that kids should enjoy.

At the end of each story is a fun quiz –
possibly a kid’s version of a comprehension? The book is also filled with other
interesting bits about Danny and the other characters – for example, a record
of all the (mostly) disgusting things that Pugsley has done, a list of what
Danny collects and even a story by Danny himself.

Younger children aged 7 and over will
delight in the antics of Danny and his friends, but it is also a book which
could easily be shared in the classroom, prompting some similar story writing
and illustrating.

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Mothball, everyone’s favourite wombat
returns in French’s latest adventure, again featuring the illustrations of
Bruce Whatley and set against a sporting
backdrop.

Mothball, in her never ending search for
carrots, joins in a school athletics carnival, where her obvious lack of
training is not a hindrance as she races the ‘small humans’ to the finish line.
Using her wombat digging skills, she has only one thing on her mind.

Next stop
a swimming carnival, then a rugby game where Mothball dodges a horde of black
boots in a scrum and tackles the ball, depositing it near the goal posts,
winning again.

Finally she spies a shopping bag and the
best prize is won – not carrots after all.

Monday, 19 October 2015

Why
did Scholastic Australia preorder 6,000 copies of this self-published book for
its book fairs and book club? Most likely, despite the words ‘pee,’ ‘poo’, and
‘bum’ that appear often, this chapter book for readers aged 8 to 12 years is
laugh-aloud funny, quirky and original.

Gillmore’s
first book is the first in a series of books following the adventures of two
cats, Tuck and Ginger, as they try to escape the evil clutches of a pair of
foul-smelling witches, Rodney and Janice. The two live in a high rise apartment
with kidnapped cats Ginger, ‘a streamlined ebony athlete’ and Ginger, ‘a flabby
middle-aged mog’ until the two (often warring) cats escape.

Gillmore
uses an unusual omniscient narrative voice to relate this story; it’s an
opinionated storyteller with personality, who speaks with heaps of sarcasm and
wit, and plenty of asides to and questions of the child reader. Here is a
sample: ‘You really don’t want to be found by a witch, did you know
that? And do you know why? Because witches just loved children. Mostly they
liked them fried, but Rodney and Janice preferred them grilled because it’s a
healthier way of cooking with less cholesterol.’

The
author also employs frequent invented words like ‘bennyhoo’ and ‘bendyway’
(instead of ‘anyhow’) and phrases that make one chuckle (‘hoochie baroochie’,
‘whoopee doobie bingbats’ and ‘phutty-phutty-churg-churg’. Sometimes he uses a
word like ‘hermetically’ and then tells his reader to ‘look it up’ before
proceeding with the tale-telling. Often he writes very funny alliterative
sentences. His writing is full of energy and humour as his story moves from the
cats’ adventures to their pursuit by their former owners. The question
under-riding the story is: will Tuck and Ginger be able to overcome their differences
and work together to save their lives as they flee from their hell-bent
captors?

Although
the book is very thick (almost 250 pages), it is so different from any other
book for middle-grade readers and with so much humour (too much ‘bum gas’ and
‘poo’ though for this adult reader), that it’s sure to be a hit. One can
imagine that young readers will be hanging out for the next book in the series.
Do we perhaps have another Andy Griffiths waiting in the wings?

Saturday, 17 October 2015

Alfie, the engaging little
crocodile who loves to procrastinate, is back! This time it is bedtime and he
cannot find Sharkie. How’s a little crocodile supposed to sleep without the
right toy to cuddle? Once again, it’s up to a clever father to find a way
around the distractions, keep things going and get his tired son bathed and in
to bed. ‘Let’s see if he is in the bath.’,
‘He might be hiding in your pyjama
drawer.’

The text in the story is dialogue;
bold font for Alfie and normal for Dad. The pictures provide all the other
clues for the story, the search for Sharkie. These ink and collage
illustrations are full of colour, shape and imagination and the text looks like
strips stuck on, blending the words and pictures seamlessly.

Alfie’s
Lost Sharkie is an engaging and fun story which will be enjoyed by
preschoolers and their adult readers. Children will respond to the humour and
relate to many aspects of Alfie’s behaviour. Every parent will recognise
Alfie’s stalling tactics and applaud Dad’s gentle way of dealing with them.

Friday, 16 October 2015

Coco Banjo has been Unfriended written
and illustrated by N.J. Gemmell (Random House)

PB
RRP $14.99

ISBN
9780857987358

Reviewed
by Jaquelyn Muller

The
day Emma Chippendale decided to sit with Sally Haggerty on the bus to my grade
three excursion to (the old) Parliament House in Canberra, was a dark miserable
day in my then extremely short life. This was tragically relived upon reading Coco
Banjo has been Unfriended.

There
may be 30-something years separating myself from Coco Banjo, but the
inconsolable dismay at being ditched by your best friend, is not restricted to
a generation I’ll have you know.

This
gorgeous graphic novel comes alive with the images working in harmony with the
relatable characters that every kid experiences in primary school, right down
to the cranky headmistress, who declares fun punishable by times tables and the
hoity-toity mean girls hell bent on creating more misery than a soggy egg
sandwich.

Coco
Banjo is an off-beat little girl with a career mum who works away, so she pulls
in the attention of readers with her flowery terminology and whimsical
personality, however she is relatable as she grapples with the everyday challenges
of being a girl in middle year primary. Clothes, sleepovers and school camp
room allocations are interwoven with embarrassing parent behaviour and a
repressive school dictatorship destined to quash the creativity of any ten year
old.

A
variety of fonts and graphics cleverly break up the text, which make this book
perfect for reluctant and voracious readers alike. The pages come alive with
punchy dialogue and comical illustrations in the same way that the My Life,
Treehouse and Wimpy Kid book series’ have embraced the modern graphic novel.

At
the root of all the chaos of Banksia Bay Public, is Coco Banjo’s commitment to
positivity and kindness with enough mischief (or as I like to all it creative
thinking) to get her out of trouble. She is an empathetic character and
the friend we all need through the monkey bars of life. The very Aussie
backdrop is a tribute to our lucky way of life and Gemmell has shared her love
of Australian culture in the scenes she has created.

The
first book in the series was released earlier this year with Coco Banjo
is Having a Yay Day and the third book is set for release next year
with Coco Banjo and the Super Wow Surprise. Nikki Gemmell is the
author of four novels for adults. Her other children’s titles include the The
Luna Laboratorium and the The Icicle Illuminarium.

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Delphine is a servant girl, a friendless orphan who
lives and works in the palace of Queen Theodora. She is alone and lonely. The
one thing that brings her comfort is the ability to sing. When she does at
night all her loneliness drifts away on song.

When Beatrice, the Queen’s niece, arrives at the
palace, Delphine believes at last she will have a friend her own age. But
Beatrice, unkind, spiteful and a trouble-maker, makes Delphine’s life more
miserable than ever.

Delphine’s songs travel on the night air across the
Savannah. A herd of giraffes respond to the loneliness and desperation in the
child’s voice and move toward the sound. Their heads in Delphine’s window
beckon her and she goes with them. There is a whole new and wondrous world
outside the palace that Delphine can savour, and she fills her empty heart with
scenes of beauty and nature.

Delphine wants to stay with the herd but knows she
must return. Then the giraffe mistakes her window and puts her into Beatrice’s.
It’s a photo on the bedside table that makes Delphine see past the cruel side
of the other girl. They have something in common and this makes Delphine reach
out in compassion and song to that commonality.

This is a moving story of loneliness and grief that
addresses how emotions are often displayed in children’s misbehaviour. An
excellent picture book, it can be used to generate class or any other
adult/child discussion about feelings and emotions of anger and unkindness, and
why and how they affect people the way they do.

Beautifully illustrated in watercolour and ink, this
book will appeal to the 5+ year age group. Kenneth Kraegel is the author and
illustrator of King Arthur’s Very Great
Grandson, a New York Times
Notable Book of the Year.

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

This
debut novel by Philippine-born Poppy Inkwell is the first in the Alana Oakley
series aimed at 11 to 13 year-olds. Alana has just turned 12 and finished
primary school. Her father passed away three years earlier, but Alana lives an
eventful life with her mum in Marrickville, Sydney – all of which is
well-evoked by the author’s animated narrative.

For
its target age-group, this book is interesting in that it strongly features adult
characters – albeit somewhat comical ones – with alternate chapters following
Alana and her friends, then switching to focus on Alana’s groovy and
young-at-heart mum, Emma – including her teen-dream job as an investigative
journalist.

This
dual narrative makes for a varied and lively read and enables layering of
action-and-consequence that adds to the complexity and reader satisfaction.
There is rarely a dull moment as Alana deals with new friendships, her first
days of high school and a stolen jewellery item. Meanwhile, Emma
has problems scheduling an interview with a famous and reclusive rock star
around the interference of her mischievous friends, who also act as Emma’s
self-appointed – and opinionated – personal stylists.

The
text is filled with familiar popular-culture references and a slapstick humour
that edges towards questionable in a couple of instances, but overall rollicks
along and provides plenty of entertainment. The characters are likeable,
diverse and fun and the narrative offers positive messages about
responsibility, acceptance, friendship, support and loyalty.

Slightly
wacky and sufficiently charming, Mystery & Mayhem would
make a natural progression for those who enjoyed series such as ‘Go Girl’ as
younger readers. As well as this, the series has the potential to appeal to
older readers who still enjoy a bit of tween-age escapism.

Monday, 12 October 2015

When
I first picked up Ollie and the Wind, the title immediately created
intrigue. How does a little boy have any impact or influence over something as
infinite as the Wind? The concept for early childhood readers would
certainly be enough to pique curiosity.

The
first picture book for Random House from Sydney based author and illustrator
Ronojoy Ghosh, does not fail to deliver a quirky and heart-warming story of
Ollie who lives on an island with a tiny community of people. Immediately
the illustrations convey much of the loneliness experienced by Ollie with
sparsely placed houses and vegetation but the colour and Ollie’s personality
give the book instant appeal.

Ollie
must try to understand why the wind has decided to fly away
with his hat then his scarf. He tries to search and contain the wind to
demand his belongings be returned, but on discovering that the wind is
untameable, he must think differently about it and how it must be dealt with.

The
images are not complex but the openness created by Ghosh and the full bleed of
colour allows for a sense of the outdoors. The text is styled simply and in
line with the illustrations and offers restrained support to the story rather
than becoming part of the imagery which can be common with a lot of picture
books.

The
illustrations are enhanced through texture and the colour palette of blue and
greens communicate the smells and sounds of a seaside location while the
primary colours attributed to Ollie and his possessions, give movement and
focus to the story.

There
is an obvious environmental element to this book in how wind lives around us,
but I also thought that there was a feeling of discovering friendship in
unexpected ways as Ollie learns to enjoy the wind.

Ghosh is an award winning
advertising art director and is due to release another title next year for
Random House titled No Place Like Home

Sunday, 11 October 2015

Story and information are so tightly wound together
in this stunning book it is hard to separate one from the other. That’s why the
text is written in two sizes. The story is in larger font and the additional
information is in smaller text.

The detailed full page illustrations created with
mixed media draw the reader into the water world of the platypus, one of the
few venomous mammals in the world. The full page illustrated sequence is broken
only twice. Once it shows two pictures on one page of platypus emerging and
submerging. The second is at the end where platypus snuggles into his burrow
after long hours of foraging.

Male and female habits are exposed. Parenting
methods, nesting habits, and how the nestlings are protected are revealed.
Hints on their personal grooming and their fat storing tails are also
uncovered. Earthy colours, tangled tree roots, shapely rocks and running water
fill the pages.

This is a superbly visual book on the life and habit
of the ‘puzzling platypus’. It is the kind of book parents and family want to
buy for their children. It will mesmerise them as they read and learn about
these fascinating mammals. Overseas
visitors will want to take this book of incredible beauty home with them.
Schools and libraries should rush to get this on their shelves.

Mark Jackson has done an outstanding job translating
Sue Whiting’s text. The covers, end papers and everything in between is of the
highest quality. It is suited to the 6 - 100 age groups, and for discerning
collectors of magnificent picture books.

Icelandic author/illustrator Birgitta Sif continues
to impress with every new piece of work she produces. In this stunning book,
writer and illustrator are a magical combination.

In this perfect collaboration, Birgitta breathes
life into a meaningful story with cats as characters, and Crumb as the main
one. The themes of shyness and fear and how they can be overcome by kindness
and support, are approached with tenderness, insight and humour. The pages are
filled with delightful images, full of colour and humour, and the easily
recognized strokes and detailed drawings that are the unique trademark of this
talented illustrator.

Miss Hazeltine has opened a home for all cats –
strays and others that suffer from fear and shyness. They pour in. Some are
brought there by their owners. The cats’ fears stem from countless sources such
as birds, mice, noise, and wool. Others fear the dark or the light. They fill
Miss Hazeltine’s every corner. She confesses to them that she too, has fears:
of mushrooms and owls.

The days are filled with lessons on how to overcome
their insecurities. The cats practice and repeat what they are taught: how to
hold their tails, and arch their backs, and meet new friends. But going out
into the world to use these skills takes great courage.

One day the milk runs out, and Miss Hazeltine goes
to get some but doesn’t come back. What has happened to her? What will happen
to them if they don’t find her? Are the cats brave enough to face the outside
world? Has Crumb gained the confidence to lead the cats out of the house, into
the dark in scary places in a search for their beloved Miss Hazeltine?

This fantastic book with its eye-catching cover is
aimed at the 3+ years age group, but there will be lots of adults reaching for this
story filled with endless possibilities.

Friday, 9 October 2015

IckyPedia: A Dictionary of
Disgusting New Words by
Matt Kelly and Richard Higgins Aka The Listies (Puffin) PB RRP $14.99

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

What on earth are
‘bookers’? Only one who delves into this self-acclaimed ‘gross and wonderful
world’ will learn that bookers are what your book gets covered in when you
sneeze on it. Similarly a nose-go zone is a place too smelly to visit. And a
unipsycho, being a crazy person on a unicycle, is best avoided. Yes, there’s
lots to learn in this seriously weird paperback which is sure to be on the
reading ‘have to’ list by wacky kids aged 8 years and up.

Icky-Pedia is sure to have been a designer – and an
illustrator’s -- nightmare being chocker-block full of many different
typefaces, cartoons, comic strips, photographs, black and white and grey
illustrations, break-outs and more.

Boring this book is not!
You know from the two vomiting guys on the front cover (and the realistic
raised flies on the swamp of vomit) to the first entry, a quote by Jane Austink
(‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a bum in possession of some gas,
must be in want of a fart’) exactly what to expect. But it’s not just vomit, farts,
nose droppings and other body excretions that excite junior rebels; the book
has some factual -- albeit hidden -- information,. For example, in the ‘E’
section of the dictionary, under the entry ‘Did you know’ and the introduction:
‘Australians like to celebrate things by ENBIGENATING them’, there’s reference
to The Big Pineapple on the Queensland Sunshine Coast and The Big Poo in Kiama,
NSW (and there – to prove the point – is an illustration of Kiama’s (sic) The
Big Potato – though this big thing is actually located in Robertson, to the
west of Kiama.)

Here are a few examples of
entries under the letter ‘K’: KANGAROOSTER (the rarely seen half kangaroo, half
rooster. Can be identified by its call, ‘Hopadoodledoo!), KISSEMBOWELL (to suck
someone’s guts out through the act of kissing. See also PSYCHOPASH), and
KINGPONG (a fart that smells exactly like a giant stressed-out gorilla). You
must surely get the idea by now!

Will this book sell a heap
for Penguin Books? Mmmm… it’s difficult to tell. What parent is going to want
to have his or her child reading aloud all the disgusting entries in Icky-Pedia,
perhaps at the dinner table? Or should one ask instead, what parent wants his
or her child to simply read? And will librarians want to bring more warty, farty,
bummy and other gross stuff into their schools? It all remains to be seen.

Thursday, 8 October 2015

How Turtle Got
His Shell and Other Storiesby
James Vance Marshall, illustrated by Francis Firebrace (Walker Books)

PB RRP $ 19.95

ISBN 9781922077219

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

This collection of Dreamtime Myths, legends and
folklore is amazing. The content focuses on the environment and nature, and how
important it is to care for the earth and waterways. The stories are written in
a way that will inspire children to focus on caring for our world, while they
simultaneously learn the legends of our Indigenous people.

Compiled of ten stories in addition to several
random pages on selected subjects, each story is followed by a page of
information on the main object. For example, after the story of Why Young Koalas Cling to their Mother’s
Back we learn about koalas: their main features, what they eat, their
natural habitat, why their numbers are declining, and how they can be
protected.

How Animals
First Came to Australia heads the line. The information that follows tells us ‘why the animals of
Australia are unique.’ It continues with the greed of a frog named Tidalick and
his outcome, and about the vindictive Purrah, who stole the Desert people’s
water and tried to hide in the clouds.

Learning about the role bees (there are 20,000
species) and flies (122,000 species) each with a specific role to play will
change your perception of these two insects forever.

The title story of How the Turtle Got Its Shell is a legend of love and punishment for
disobedience.The young Yiddiki,
while out hunting, discovers a log that becomes the didgeridoo. A seemingly
insignificant frill-necked lizard has the power to stop the drought, but can’t
get anyone to listen to him.

There is a wonderful tale on how the Murray River
was created and the last legend refers to Why
the Stars of the Southern Cross Shine so Brightly.

All the stories are mesmerising. There is a rich
Glossary at the end followed by two pages of Aboriginal Symbols and their
Meaning.

The illustrations created with acrylics are
outstanding. Rich earthy brown, ochre, black, green, blue and red represent the
trees, rivers, sky and the people so beautifully. There are full-page
illustrations without text, pages interspersed with text, and text decorated by
art. Full of vibrant colour, this attractive book is a valuable learning tool
for students of the 9+ age group, and those interested in Indigenous culture.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

The tremendously successful Archie’s War documented WW1 through the eyes of Archie as a child.
Now Archie’s daughter, Flossy, has compiled her own diary about WW2. It covers
1939–1945.

Archie has joined the army and left nine year old
Flossy to care for her baby brother. Flossy’s mother died after Boo was
born. They live at Honeysuckle Cottage
on an estate in Dorchester with Great-Uncle Colin, who is head gardener. Flossy
loves to draw and is given the diary to document the war and to keep her
occupied and literate. The pages are filled to overflowing with drawings that
share her life, and the lives of her friends and family. There is also fold-out
family tree.

This is a marvellous scrapbook/diary. Its wealth of
information is collected from many different sources. It’s compiled of
statistics, local information, fold-out letters from home and overseas,
newspaper cuttings, posters, photographs and maps. It relays the fears,
thoughts, feelings, and extraordinary challenges faced during those difficult
years, many from the point of view of children. This allows readers of the 9+
age groups to relate to the characters’ experiences, and learn about the war
with interest.

Flossy’s humorous tone makes it a cheerful
narrative, despite the sad happenings. Each historical entry magnifies the
courage, resilience and resourcefulness of the children left behind to do adult
work, knit for the soldiers, and to grow food to keep themselves alive. The
power of the Women’s Land Army and the countless other women’s associations is
never understated. Neither is the role the nurses played.

I found this a valuable book. I enjoyed every word
and it is visually stimulating, educational and entertaining. It’s something
children will love and return to over and over.